[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WhatsApp has released the long-awaited business version of its messaging application, promising a much better experience for SMBs who want to communicate with customers on the platform.
Facebook bought WhatsApp for a $19 billion in 2014, partly as a measure to protect its social network. Facebook immediately scrapped the annual subscription charge in a bid to drive use and promised never to introduce in-app advertising.
This has meant it has searched for alternative ways to monetise its expensive acquisition.
Naturally, there are fears that users might be spammed, but WhatsApp says the existing system of businesses using one smartphone and one number to contact users simply wasn’t sufficient, nor was the absence of any verification system for organisations.
If you have separate business and personal phone numbers, you can have both WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger installed on the same phone, and register them with different numbers.
In addition to the features available in WhatsApp Messenger, WhatsApp Business includes:
- BUSINESS PROFILE: Create a profile for your business to help your customers find valuable information — like your website, location, or contact information
- BUSINESS MESSAGING TOOLS: Be more responsive to your customers by using Away messages to indicate that you’re away.
- LANDLINE/FIXED NUMBER SUPPORT: You can use WhatsApp Business with a landline (or fixed) phone number and your customers can message you on that number. During verification, select the “Call me” option to receive the code over a phone call.
- RUN BOTH WHATSAPP MESSENGER AND WHATSAPP BUSINESS: You can use both WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger on the same phone, but each app must have its own unique phone number.
- WHATSAPP WEB: You can more efficiently respond to your customers right from your computer’s browser.
“WhatsApp was built for people and we want to improve the business experience. For example, by making it easier for businesses to respond to customers, separating customer and personal messages, and creating an official presence,” said WhatsApp.
The WhatsApp Business application is free to download and allows businesses to create a profile with a description, email address, location information and links to official websites.
Users will have time saving tools such as quick replies for frequently asked questions, automatic greetings and away messages. There will also be access to message statistics so businesses can review what is working for them.
The app is available in Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the US and UK from today, with the promise of more countires to come, but is Android-only at the time being.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1490465819137{margin-top: 5px !important;margin-right: 5px !important;margin-bottom: 5px !important;margin-left: 5px !important;border-top-width: 5px !important;border-right-width: 5px !important;border-bottom-width: 5px !important;border-left-width: 5px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #f4f4f4 !important;border-left-color: #eaeaea !important;border-left-style: groove !important;border-right-color: #eaeaea !important;border-right-style: groove !important;border-top-color: #eaeaea !important;border-top-style: groove !important;border-bottom-color: #eaeaea !important;border-bottom-style: groove !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”97858″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_single_image image=”96823″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp.w4b&hl=en_GB”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Version: 4.0.3
Updated: January 17, 2018
Category: Communication
Price: Free
Requirements: Android 4.0.3 +
Developer: WhatsApp
Contains Ads: No
In-app Purchases: No
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